Delaware, seven other states seek to curb air pollution from upwind states

Monday

Dec 9, 2013 at 12:20 PM

Delaware and seven other northeast and mid-Atlantic states today petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require upwind states to reduce air pollution generated within its borders, which causes asthma, respiratory disease, and other public health problems.

Staff Reports

Delaware and seven other northeast and mid-Atlantic states today petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to require upwind states to reduce air pollution generated within its borders, which causes asthma, respiratory disease, and other public health problems.

The multi-state action is aimed at requiring nine upwind states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia to reduce air pollution emissions that are carried by prevailing winds and contribute to the formation of ozone to the north and east.

States filing the petition, all current members of the OTR are: Delaware, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

"Pollution doesn't just hurt the public's health, but the health of our state's economy," said U.S. Senator Chris Coons. "Upwind states' reluctance to invest in the necessary pollution controls imposes on Delaware's ecosystem and forces Delawareans to absorb additional health care costs. These upwind states should act as good neighbors by integrating existing available pollution control technology, and utilize cleaner fuels to reduce the emissions crossing into Delaware."